Road joint machine



Dec. 24, 1935. J. N. HELTZEL ROAD JOINT MACHINE Filed June 20, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 1 5mm John 11/. He zt ez Gum/P J. N. HELTZEL' ROAD JOINTMACHINE Dec. 24, 1935.

Filed June20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 I Z. 1 F

Dec. 24, 1935. v J. N. HELTZE'L RQAD JOINT MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 5 I grWC/YV Y/ via/Q4 11 15 2219422 awn/Win 0 Dec. 24,1935. J. N E E 2,025,449

ROAD JOINT MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Jaizn 11f.HQZZZQZ Dec. 24, 1935.

J. N. HELTZEL 2,025,449

ROAD JOINT MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1932 Patented Dec.24, 1935 entries stares FA'EENT OFEIQE 29 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in road joint machines,and is a continuation in part of my copending application entitled Roadbuilding apparatus, filed December 19, 1929, Serial No. 415,318.

In common with the objects of that prior application, the presentinvention aims to provide an improved apparatus or device for operatingupon concrete roads to install joint material therein, whereby theconcrete roads, will be divided into separable slabs capable ofindependently contracting and expanding incident to changes intemperature without resulting in hap hazard cracking and breaking of theconcrete throughout the slabs and in avoidance of up heaval of the roaddue to frost and freezing.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved joint whichwill control the cracking of the slabs from the longitudinal monolithinto which the concrete road is molded, the joint preventing the seepageof surface water into the crack beneath the joint, and thus avoidingdeterioration of the road from such seepage and from the water freezingin the road joints and cracks.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an improved jointfor the roads, which will avoid the surface spalling of the concrete atthe joint, and which will tend to maintain for a long time the joint ina neat and water proof condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device forthe installation of the joint material, whereby the material may bedeposited at a greater depth and in a proper position and locationwithin the plastic mass of the concrete body.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be morefully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing animproved joint and a method and device for installing same.

Figure lA shows a modified form of joint in the concrete.

Figure 1-B shows a further modified form of the joint.

Figure 2 is a vertical fragmentary section of a road with one form ofthe improved joint there-v 1n.

(Cl. ti l-39) Figure 3 is a similar view with a slightly modified formof joint.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away,showing a further modified form of joint and method for installing same.5

Figure 5 shows a similar view illustrating a further modification.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an improved machine for slotting andinstalling joint material shown in connection with a partly broken 10away slab of concrete.

Figure '7 is a perspective View of the installing blade with a fragmentof the joint material engaging same and illustrating a sectionalconstruction of the blade.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modification involvingthe installation of two joint strips.

Figure 8A is a fragmentary perspective View showing an inverted T-shapedjoint produced with the apparatus indicated in Figure 8.

Figure 8-13 is a similar View showing a modified construction ofinverted T-joint also produced by the apparatus illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of implement forinstalling doubled joint material shown as engaged with the concreteslab shown partly away and partly in section.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of joint material depositedby the device of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective View, with parts broken away and parts shownin section of a further modified form of apparatus shown in connectionwith a concrete slab partially broken away and partially illustrated insection.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a concrete slab showingjoint material deposited therein as by the machine of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective View, with parts broken away and parts shownin section, of a further modified form of machine for installing doubledjoint ribbon or material.

Figure 13A shows the cutter projecting down through the slot.

Figure 13-3 shows a modified form of cutter.

Figure 14 is also a perspective view, partly roken away and partlyillustrated in section, showing a modified form of joint installingapparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and for the present toFigure 1, attention is called to the fact that this figure correspondsto Figure 36 of my prior application aforesaid Serial No. 515,318.

In this Figure 1 is shown a blade l5 of inverted U-shaped cross sectionhaving out-turned flanges Hi to move on the surface of the concrete, Aplate I! is mounted within the blade M and has an inclined edge l8 withthe rear portion of the plate I! of reduced height and preferablyprojecting from the rear end of the blade IS. A strip IQ of paper, orother foldable material, is fed over the inclined edge 18 of the plateI! and folded downwardly by grooved folding discs 29 overlapping theupper edge of the plate IT, so that the strip 19 of tar paper or thelike will be deposited in the concrete with the side edges lowermost andthe fold or bight uppermost. The blade I5 and the blade or plate i? maybe moved forwardly in the concrete to deposit the folded strip IS inrear.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, which corresponds with Figure33 of the co-pending application aforesaid, in this figure there isillustrated a strip 2! installed in a horizontal plane below a groove 2formed in the plastic concrete of'weakness created'by grooving theconcrete.

in this way the crack is controlled and results in forming slabs ofpredetermined size. Such slabs may contract and expand in obeyance toatmospher'ic and temperature conditions quite independently of oneanother so that such atmospheric ohanges will no longer result inhaphazard cracking of the roadway. The joint material 23 will seal thejoint and the strip 2| will further protect the crack 24 from theseepage of water and from foreign material getting into the crack.'Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 34 of my copending parent application.In this figure the strip 25 is folded upwardly or into substantial U-shape below the filler or joint material 23. This strip '25 may beinstalled by the method and tools disclosed in my Patent No. 1,697,563,granted January 1,- 1929.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the subject matter of thisfigure is not specifically disclosed in the parent application but'thegerm -'of the idea is in that parent application.

This Figure 4 shows a complete joint strip 26 embedded below the surfacein the concrete slab 223811121 being fashioned in a U-shape. At theforward portion of the figure a joint depositing and alining blade 27 isshown with .its lower portion engaging the strip '26. At the rear partof the figure is shown a body-of tar, asphalt, bitumen or compositionmaterial 22:, deposited in the separation made by the blade :21. aftersuch blade 2fl1vhas. been drawn forwardly or otherwise re- ":thegroove.The U-shapedstrip 26 forms a pocket moved. The body '28 forms a sealingdeposit in to retain the sealing material 2 5 in the groove,

7 .so that, when the longitudinal break 25 develops F crseep through thecrack which extends transversely across the joint bebelow the strip 26,the sealing material will not The-dowel bar 29,

-.neath the strip/25.- will prevent the lateral sepa- .:ration "of theadjacent slabs defined at opposite sides of the crack 24. Consequentlythe dowel bar will relieve the tension from the strip 25.

It is to be understood that the strip 25 may consist of any suitablemateriahsuch as copper 'or non-corrosive steel, asphaltic paper or thelike.

Referring more particularly to Figure .5, the oint strip 3% in this caseprojects substantially to the top surface of the concrete slab 22. Inother words the joint strip 36 extends up on both sides of the aliningblade 2? substantially to the top edge of that blade and to the surfaceof the concrete road. The blade 21 is employed substantially as belowdescribed in connection with Figures 6 and 7.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 and '7, a tubular ortrough-shaped'blade 3| is moved through the plastic concrete for theinstallation of the U-shaped strip 32. This strip 32 forms a pocket toretain joint filler or any suitable sealing material which may bedeposited in the joint as more clearly described in. connection withFigure 4.

The joint material 32 comes off a roll 33 carried freely on a shaft 34,which shaftis supported in brackets 35 having slots 36 therein whichslots extend substantially vertically and are adapted to be engaged withbolts or other supporting means'on a carriage or finishing machine.

the tightening-and loosening of the "bolts: the

vertical adjustment of the device may be secured. The joint'stripmaterial in flat condition com ing off the roll 33 is caused to pass*underi'the longitudinal flat folding blade 31, shown more particularlyin Figure 7. This fiat blade 31 is seated within the trough-shaped blade3 I. 1 As the flat strip of material unwinds from the reel, such stripis drawn under the flat blade 31. blade 31 folds the strip into aU-shaped section, as indicated at This inner blade 3i may project anydesired distance rearwardly of the trough-shaped blade 3!, so that asubstantially long blade, if desired, may be trailed in unison with thetrough-shaped blade 3i. The inner or folding blade 33 is mounted orcarried on the trough-shaped blade 31 by an arch member or bracket 38and theadjusting screw 39 which engages through the bracket 38 and haseither pivotal or fixed connection with the forward portion of the blade37. The threaded rod 39 and its :hand wheel provides for the independentyerparatus istrailed longitudinally through the concrete. It will rbeunderstood that the folding blade 3'! will hold the strip depressed inthe concrete and maintain it-to perfect longitudinal alinement, wrnlethenecessary finishing opera tions are performed over the top of thebladeby a suitable finishing member represented at '43. This member '53 maybe supported by'the carriage, or may be operated manually on the surfaceof the roadway, it being understood that the blade .3! may trail formuch as twenty feet re-arwardly of the carriage. In other cases it willbe desirable that the blade 37 terminate at a very short distance behindthe carriage; or for that matter such blade may terminate within thelimits of the carriage. ed joint strip32 or joint retainer has been deposited in the plastic concrete, the joint may be filled with a suitablesealin mater 1.

Referring more particularly to 7, there is here shown more clearly thejoint-folding The An additional arch member or.

After the fo1d- '5 blade 31. It will be noted that the blade is out offon an angle, as shown at 44, whereby the joint strip will be foldedgradually as it is drawn under the folding blade.

It is desirable that the folding blade 3'! be regulated as to length andconsequently the same may be composed of a number of sections of thesame or varying lengths. These sections may be added to or removed tosecure a folding blade 31 of requisite length to suit local conditions.

The main part of the blade 37 is shown in Figure 7 in connection withone of its sections 31a. .One end of the section 31a is slotted asindicated at and a pin 55 is extended across the slot in position toengage and interlock with an undercut notch 41 in the tenon bar 48 whichprojects from the rear of the main blade 3'! in position to enter theslot 45. According to the same construction other sections of the blademay be detachably engaged with one another until a blade of requisitelength is had. The length of the blade 3! will depend on the localconditions and the consistency of the concrete, it being understoodthat, when either quick setting or stiff concrete is used, a shorterlength of blade is desirable.

Referring more particularly to Figure 8, an implement is shown forinstalling a flat longitudinal joint strip, which joint strip isindicated in Figure 2 by the numeral 2|.

In this case the strip is not folded but is unwound from a reel 49 ofjoint strip material wound upon a shaft 58 which is supported in abracket 5|. This stripfrom the reel 49 is moved down into the tube 52which extends to a proper depth below the surface of the concrete slab22. This strip 2| in the flat position as shown embedded in the concretewill serve to seal the bottom of the joint as indicated. The strip 2|may consist of a mastic or premolded material, and the dowel bars 53 arepreferably inserted transversely beneath the strip 2|, as shown, toprevent the separation of the slabs and likewise the tearing of thestrip. A suitable joint is formed above the strip, which may consist ofeither a poured joint or a ribbon joint as might be re-- quired. In somecases the flat ribbon strip may consist of ribbon steel and where thisribbon steel is of substantial width and strength it will form a bondwith the concrete, serving as a tying element to tie the adjacent slabstogether to prevent separation when the concrete cracks below the joint.It is desirable to produce a groove 54 in the bottom of the slablongitudinally, and directly under the center, of the longitudinal axisof the strip.

The bracket 5| and the tube 55 may be carried by a blade 55 having aninclined forward edge to facilitate movement through the concrete. Thisblade carries an outstanding slotted arm 55 by which it may beadjustably secured to parts of a bridge or finishing machine. In thisway the entire implement may be adjusted as to height or depth in theconcrete and the depth of the joint strip 2| may be adjusted andregulated.

Referring more particularly to Figure 8A, the flat strip 2| is shown asdeposited in the slab 22 at an appropriate depth and having its flatwisedimension disposed in the horizontal or substantially parallel with thesurface of the pavement although sunk below the same. A removable jointstrip, such as the blade 31 illustrated in Figure '7 may be inserted inthe plastic concrete above the joint strip 2| and later restrip 59 maybe saturated with the mastic material if so desired.

The machine, illustrated in Figure 8, may be equipped with means forinstalling this vertical joint strip 59. To accomplish this purpose asecond roll of joint material 55 is mounted upon the shaft 55 along sidethe roll 59 for the horizontal joint strip 25. The roll is unreeled orunwound and passed downwardly through a vertical hollow tube or blade5i, the lower portion of which extends perpendicularly to the centralpart of the horizontal tube 52. These two tubes may connect and be insubstantially the form of an inverted T if desired as shown in Figure 8.Should it be desirable to waterproof the vertical strip 55, a container52 for mastic material is provided connecting by means of a tube 63 withthe vertical joint tube 5|. Thereby the mastic material is delivered tothe vertical strip 59 and this sealing material may also be forced intothe lower horizontal tube 52 so as to coat the horizontal strip 2| ifdesired. This double coating may be had by reason of theintercommunicating formation of the vertical and horizontal tubes 6| and52. Any appropriate support may be provided for the mastic container 62.

The surfacing device 43 may be operated over the top of the verticaltube 5| and over the joint strips either manually or by machineoperation.

If desired the surfacing member 43 may operate either above the tubes E!and 52 or may operate over the joint strips 2| and 59 in rear of thetubes 52 and 6|; or in other words after the tubes have been drawnforwardly.

It is to be understood that instead of using the vertical joint strip59, suitable plastic material may be projected through the vertical tube5! to be deposited in the plastic concrete to form 5'- a joint above thehorizontal strip.

Referring more particularly to Figure 9, a modified form of jointinstaller is illustrated for installing a joint strip somewhat similarto that indicated in Figure 1. According to this machine I an invertedT-shaped blade 64 is provided which 'tforrns the longitudinal aliningblade for the doubled and folded joint strip material 55. This blade istrailed through the concrete mass 22 with its horizontal flangelowermost and sub- -.1

merged to a desired depth and with its vertical flange extendingupwardly from the horizontal flange. The forward ends of the horizontalflange terminate short of the'vertical flange and are curved upwardly toform runners or skids 55. The vertical flange extends forwardly beyondthe skids 65 and constitutes a cutting blade 51 for grooving theconcrete.

To the blade 5? are affixed the arms or brackets 58 which are assembledto the movable carriage and secured upon the carriage by supports whichengage through the vertical slots 69 admitting of the verticaladjustment of the device from the carriage. The roll of joint materialis indicated at It and is carried upon a shaft H mounted in the bracketarms 68. They joint material I9 is brought down from the roll andbeneath the deforming member I2 which is disposed at the mouth of thelongitudinal shield 13. The joint material is shaped by the member 72and the shield I3 about the alining' blade 64, and the strip 65 in thedoubled condition is left .in the concrete while the blade 64 and shieldI3 move forward longitudinally, thus depositing the strip 65 in theconcrete. The bent portion or bight of the strip 65 is disposeduppermost or toward the surface, thereby producing a joint such as shownin Figure 10.

The outside shield I3 seats on the base or flange of the longitudinalblade 64 so that the joint material 65 will be free from any verticalpressure which might be produced because of finishing operations orother implements that might bear down on the shield I3.

Such pressure'might cause a binding of the strip 65 and prevent its freemovement over the blade 64 and under the shield I3. In dotted lines theshield I3 is shown as swung out of position or out of contact with theremaining parts of the apparatus. To effect this an arm I4 is providedbeing secured to the shield I3 as indicated at Hand being pivoted at itsother end upon the shaft II. The shield I3 is swung out of operativeposition in order to facilitate inspection and cleaning of theapparatus. A float member I6 operates over the plastic material. Thisfloat member has a raised portion 11 so that excess concrete materialmay be retainedlongitudinally over the joint installing apparatus,because some surplus material is required at this point longitudinallyalong the joint line, as, after the apparatus has passed through theconcrete and the strip 65 is left in position, there will be required acertain amount of concrete or plastic material to fill the spacepreviously occupied by the members 64 and I3; it being understood thatthe final finishing operation over the sur- .face of the concrete andover the strip 65 will be performed after the members 64 and I3 havebeen moved forward.

Figure shows the inverted channel strip in position showing the smallcrack at the top of the concrete. The slabs will crack and may be heldtogether by dowel rods as previously explained.

Referring more particularly to Figure 11 another modification of themachine is shown involving a longitudinal joint blade I8 consisting ofan upright U-shaped member having outwardly extending flanges I9 on itsupper free edges. These flanges I9 are upon the intermediate portion ofthe joint blade I8 only. Such flanges begin at a point behind the frontplow end of the joint blade and they terminate short of the rear end ofthe blade I8. These flanges I9 form convenient supports for a bracket 78| having slotted side legs 82 through which extends the verticallyadjustable shaft 83 of a rotary disc 84. The shaft 83 is carried in afork 85 supported adjustably on the lower end of the screw shaft 86threaded through the bracket 8| and rotatable by means of the hand wheel81 to adjust the disc 84 vertically through the trough of the U-shapedblade I8. The disc constitutes the shaping member for the joint strip 88which is fed from the roll of joint material carried upon the shaft 89fitted in the arms or brackets 99.

The standard 9! to which the arms 99 are affixed and which carries theblade I8 is supported from the transverse frame of the carriage 92. Thestandard 9| is pivotally or otherwise secured to a cross head 93 capableof vertical adjustment on the guides 94 carried by the frame 92. Thiscross head is engaged by an adjusting screw 95 which is threaded througha support 96 which may be aflixed to the guides 94 or to some otherfixed part of the frame. By manipulation of the hand wheel 9! thelongitudinal blade I8 may be moved up and down to and from the plasticconcrete. As before stated the blade I8 has a plow-shaped forward end 66which opens up the concrete as the machine is moved forward. The rearportions of the flanges I9 are secured to the workmens platforms 98which may extend the full length of the carriage and are supported forvertical adjustment from the carriage by means of adjusting screws 99secured to the platforms and extending through threaded brackets I99upon the'carriage frame. Lateral adjusting screws Nil are shown asengaged through the metallic straps I92 and abutting against the sideedges of the platform 98. These straps I62 are slotted, as indicated atI63 to receive the adjusting nuts and bolts Isa engaged with theplatforms.

By loosening the nuts and manipulating the adjusting screws IBI, theplatforms 98 may be shifted toward or from the blade I8. Thereafter thenuts I 94 are tightened. The straps I62 are connected with the rearportions of the flanges '59 as indicated at I95.

1 In operating the device, the carriage 92 is moved longitudinally overthe roadway; and the joint strip 88 is unreeled from the roll and passedunder the disc 84. The disc is moved downwardly to the proper depth sothat the joint strip 98 will be folded into a U-shaped member within theforming trough or blade 18. Being of flexible material, the strip 88,when it leaves the disc 84 will be irregular as to its upper edges.Inother words it will be wavy. Where a perfectly alined joint isrequired it will be desirable to insert the metal alining bars I05within the folded strip whereby to temporarily support such flexiblejoint 1 strip to longitudinal alinement. One or more additional sectionsl0! may be provided for the alining bar having coupling means !68between the sections. These coupling parts 168 will interlock withadjacent ends of companion bar sections. These bars are left in positionuntil the concrete has taken its initial set; or they may be left inposition until after the concrete has hardened; whereupon such bars maythen be lifted vertically out of position within the folded strip'88.Such alining bars therefore may be used over and over again. Thetransverse 'surfacer Hi9, which may be attached to the machine oroperated manually over the surface of the plastic concrete and over thetop surface of the joint strip 88, completes the finishing operation.

In Figure 12 is shown a sectional view of a modified joint strip 4 19,which is automatically deformed progressively as it passes through thelongitudinal deforming and depositing blade. The

flanges III serve as anchors to support the deformed strip in theplastic concrete; Sealing ma terial H2 is poured into the open joint toprovide a seal.

Referring more particularly to Figure 13, H3 represents a portion of themovable carriage which is supported on the side forms and moveslongitudinally over the roadway. Carried on a frame H3 are dependingslotted brackets H4 for slidably receiving parts of a head'IIS which isvertically adjustable by means of the adjusting screw II6. Pivotally orotherwise secured to the head, as indicated at In, are two longitudinalmembers H8 which are spaced apart approximately one-half inch, suchmembers being secured together at their forward ends by the head H5.

The bottom faces of these members I I8 are of a desired width, say sixinches each and have a fiat surface which contacts with the top surfaceof the concrete. The members II8 are formed in the shape of runners atthe forward end, as indicated at I I9, in order to facilitate themovement of the members through the plastic material. The rear portionsof the members H8 are reduced in Width as indicated at I26, so that therear end portions of these longitudinal members will converge into anarrow gauge-like structure which W111 occupy less space laterally overthe surface of the roadway, thereby facilitating the finishing of theconcrete closer to the zone of the installed joint. At the rear therunners H8 are connected together by a yoke I2I.

Workmens platforms are shown at I22 extending outwardly and spaced fromthe runners H8. On these workmens platforms are mounted supports I23 forsupporting the rear end of the joint installing apparatus. The bearingsare slotted as indicated at I24 and vertically adjustable in the slotsare bearing blocks I25 for receiving the shaft I26. The blocks I25 areadjustable through adjusting screws I21.

The shaft I26 supports the rear portion of the runners I I8 so thatthrough the adjusting screws I21 at the rear and the adjusting screw H6at the front, the runners II8 will be vertically adjustable throughoutthe entire length thereof. The adjustment is independent at both frontand rear parts of the device. Lateral adjustment is also provided by thecollars I28 provided with set screws I29 for securing same to the shaftI26 outside of the supports I23. The longitudinal members or runners I68are provided with upstanding arms I33 and I3I carrying shafts I32 andI33. One or both of these shafts may be mounted for vertical movement asfor instance by being mounted in the bearing blocks I34 verticallyadjustable in slots I35 in the arms I3I, the adjustment beingaccomplished by means of adjusting screws I36. On these shafts I32 andI33 are rollers I31 and I38 which shafts and rollers are rotated bymeans of the sprockets I39 and I46 and the connecting chain I4 I. Withone of the shafts is associated a drive sprocket I42 coupled to a chainI43 which extends to a suitable power plant on the carriage. A belt I44extends over the rollers I31 and I36 and cleaving implements I45 arecarried by said belt.

These cleaving implements extend down between the runners H8 and movethrough the plastic concrete within the space defined between thevertical inner flanges I46 of such runners H8. The runners are alsopreferably provided with vertical outer flanges to form a channel shapedreinforced runner, although this particular construction is notnecessary. While the machine will move in the direction of the arrow A,the chain MI and the cleaving implements I45 will be driven in thedirection of the arrow B. It will be understood that a sprocket chainmay be used in lieu of the belt I44. The cleaving implements may be ofany desired shape, preferably having outer rounded end portions, inorder to facilitate movement through the concrete in the same directionin which the machine is moving. It will be understood that this cleavingimplement may be driven faster than the carriage or machine in orderthat they may progress through the plastic concrete relatively to themovement of the machine, and in fact 5 may be moved through the concreteeven though the carriage is stopped. Such cleaving implements will openup the concrete in preparation for the installing of the joint material.The joint material is carried in a roll E4? on the shaft I26 rearwardlyof the cleaving implements I45.

The joint strip is unreeled from the roll I41 and moved down under thedisc I48, being automatically folded when forced down between the spacedblades or runners H8 and being depressed into the plastic concrete bythe disc I48 which extends between the runners or blades II8. Any of thepreviously illustrated and described implements for installing the jointmaterial may be substituted if desired. The disc may be carried by awire or other yoke I48 pivotally mounted in the supports I23 or uponother suitable fixed part.

It may be desired to reinforce temporarily the folded joint strip I41 inorder to hold the joint strip to alinement while the finishing of theconcrete is performed over the top of the strip. Consequently alinementplates or bars I56 may be inserted within the folded joint strip I41whereby to temporarily hold the strip in an expanded position and totrue alinement permitting the finishing of the concrete over the stripeither by hand method or by mechanical method as indicated by theimplement I5I. It may also be desirable to install joint strips I52,which may consist of premolded material intended to remain in place orsuch strips I52 may consist of a metal member which may be removed inorder to form a groove. The metal member may correspond to the members3? and 31a; of Figure 7.

After the metal member is removed the groove may be filled with asealing material. When a premolded strip is employed or a removablemetal strip used, the folded joint strip I41 may or may not beinstalled.

Referring to Figure 14, this figure corresponds l5 to Figure 28 of theparent application aforesaid. In accordance with this form of theinvention a float I53 is shown having slots through which one or morediscs I54 project downwardly into the concrete for cutting a groove inthe concrete, said float being adjustable vertically by means ofadjusting screws I55. A pair of discs I56 is mounted in a hinged arm I51to move in the groove or slot I58 formed by the discs I54. Thearm isshown to be hinged at I59 upon an appropriate part of the carriage ormachine frame I65. The joint strip is indicated at I6I, the same beinginserted in the groove I58 back of the float I53 and in advance of thediscs I56, the discs acting to force the joint strip I6I down 60 intothe groove whereby to properly install the same.

Figure 1--A represents a combination traffic line and joint, in which 22represents the plastic concrete and 2Ia. designates premolded ribbon,which may consist of asphalt or any suitable material, having a colorother than that of the surface of the roadway whereby to produce adistinct and contrasting traffic line.

This trafiic line material would be desirable in the width ofapproximately four inches and is embedded in the plastic concreteprogressively as the installing implements move over the roadway andsimultaneously the joint strip 59a is installed, it being understoodthat the implement for installing this material may consist ofthe asurface of the road to form a traffic line instead of embedding it underthe surface of the road as illustrated in Figure 8.

It will be understood that this material 59a and 2| a is installed by aT-shaped tubular member having the cross section as indicated. at 52aand em in Figure 1B.

Figure l3A shows the cutter projecting down through the slot and into"the plastic concrete. In this figure 22 represents the plastic material,lflfia'representsthe spaced guides, which are supported and moved overthe plastic concrete by a suitable movable carriage. The guidesmay reston the plastic concrete, if desired, or may heelevated slightly abovethe plastic concrete. A plurality of cleaving implements 1452), asillustrated in Figure 13; are moved longitudinally between the guidemembers;

Theimplements have blade-portions I452), which movein'theplasticconcrete toform a cleavage; This cleavage may afterwards befilledwithsuitable joint material as before described.

In Figure 13B are shown spaced blades having no inside vertical flanges.In this figure also appear cutting implements 1 b which reciprocate backand forth while supported'on'the guides; The guide members, it will beunder-- stood, are supported on the carriage, and the cutconcrete tocleave the material and'the discs are' reciprocated back and forthontheguide members while the carriage is being progressively movedforward over ,the'plastic concrete withthe guide members in contact withthe plastic concrete or as stated before elevated slightly above thesurface of the material.

Itis to be understood that the machine may move backand forth severaltimes over the roadway to-cleave the concrete for a distance of fifty toone-hundred feet, and, on the last forward pass, the joint may beinstalled.

Thevarious implements may be used-independently of one another as may bedesired.

It is obvious that various changes and'modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of theabove specificallydescribedembodiment of this invention without departing -member adaptedtoreceive a ribbon joint strip over the upper portion thereof, and meanscooperating with the blade for folding the joint strip downwardly uponopposite sides of said blade.

3. A joint installing device comprising a troughshaped guide, a fiatblade lying through said guide and having its forward upper edgeinclined, a joint strip received over the upper inclined edge of theblade, and forming members straddling the blade at its inclined portionfor folding the joint strip downwardly over the sides of the blade.

i. A joint installing apparatus, consisting of a wheeled carriageoperating on side forms and spanning a road under construction, atroughshaped longitudinal member to be moved longitudinally in theplastic concrete, a longitudinal blade supported within the first namedmember, means for movement of the joint strip over the top of the blade,and means for folding the strip over the blade and moving the member andthe blade longitudinally of the roadway to deposit the folded striprearwardly' of the member and the blade' 5. An improved joint forplastic material, said plastic material having a groove in the upperportion only thereof, a flatstrip of joint material embeddedsubstantially horizontally in the plastic material immediately belowsaid groove and spaced above thebase of the plastic material,

said strip being wider than the groove and having plastic material lyingin contact with the strip continuously below" the same and above thestrip at opposite sides of the groove; and sealing means placed in thegrooveabove thestrip.

6. 'An improved joint for plastic structures,

said plastic structure having a groove in the upper surface portionofthe structure, the base of the groove being spaced above the base of theplastic structure, comprising a thin flat ribbon strip of waterproofmaterial placed with itsflat side dimension substantially in thehorizontal and submerged within the plastic structure immediately belowthe groove, said strip beingwider than the grooveand having its sideportions directed upwardly the plastic material of the structure lyingabove and below said side portions and in contact therewithandsealingmaterial in the grooves above-said joint strip.

7. A joint installing apparatus comprising a to longitudinaltrough-shaped member adapted to be moved in the plastic material, alongitudinal blade adjustably supported within saidmember, and means forholding joint material formovw ment-under the blade to be deformedby-the spanning a road under construction, a longitudi- (i-J naltrough-shaped member to be moved in the plastic material, a longitudinalblade adjustably supported within the member, and joint material mountedon the apparatus for movement under the blade to be deformed by theblade and deposited in'the' plastic concrete rearwardly of the bladeandsaid member.

9. A joint installing apparatus, comprising a longitudinaltrough-shapedmember to be moved in 'plastic concrete, a longitudinal blade supportedwithin the member, means mounted on the member for vertical adjustmentof the blade, and means for movement of the member and the blade throughthe plastic concrete to produce a joint rearwardly of the blade.

10. A joint producing apparatus, comprising a wheeled carriage operatingon side forms and spanning a road under construction, a longitudinaltrough-shaped member supported on the carriage, means for verticaladjustment of the member on the carriage, a supply of joint materialsupported by the member to be moved longitudinally through the member, alongitudinal blade supported on the member, and means for movement ofthe blade into the member to deform a joint strip to be passed throughthe member to be installed in plastic concrete rearwardly of the member.

11. The method of installing joints in plastic concrete, consisting ofmoving. a trough-shaped member longitudinally through the plasticmaterial, simultaneously moving a strip of joint material through themember and deforming the strip by means of a second member insertedwithin the first-named member, finishing the plastic material over thesecond-named member, and moving both members longitudinally of theroadway to deposit the joint strip rearwardly of both members.

12. The method of producing joints in a concrete road, consisting of themovement of a longitudinal trough-shaped member through the plasticconcrete, a second longitudinal member associated with the first-namedmember, a supply of joint strip to be moved longitudinally through thefirst-named member and to be deformed by the second-named member and tobe installed in the plastic concrete rearwardly of the first-namedmember, moving the secondnamed member longitudinally through thedeformed joint strip, and means associated with the second-named memberto finish the plastic material longitudinally over the joint strip.

13. The method of installing joints in a concrete roadway underconstruction, consisting of the movement of a wheeled carriagelongitudinally of the roadway, simultaneously moving a tubular bladethrough the plastic material, moving a joint strip longitudinallythrough the blade and deforming the strip by a second longitudinal blademounted within the first-named blade, depositing the deformed strip inthe plastic concrete under the second blade, and moving the second bladelongitudinally from the deformed strip.

14. A joint producing apparatus comprising a 1 substantially U-shapedguide member, means for holding a strip of joint material at the forwardportion of the guide member, a blade in the guide member for deflectingthe joint strip downwardly into the trough-shaped member and for formingthe joint strip into substantially U-shape, said blade extending.rearwardly of the U-shaped guide member.

15. The method of producing joints in a concrete surfacing structure,consisting of the movement of ribbon joint material through alongitudinal blade, said ribbon being submerged flatways in the plasticmaterial, means for producing a cleavage in the plastic material overthe ribbon, and means for moving the apparatus through the plasticmaterial to deposit the ribbon rearwardly of the blade.

16. The method of producing a longitudinal joint in a concrete roadwayunder construction, consisting of submerging a fiat ribbonlongitudinally of the roadway at a point below the surface, cleaving theplastic material between the suriace of the road and the ribbon toproduce a groove above the ribbon and introducing joint material thereinto seal the groove.

17. An apparatus for installing joints in concrete roadways underconstruction comprising a cleaving implement for movement through theconcrete, and intersecting tubes following the cleaving means in theconcrete for depositing joint strips angularly to one another.

18. An apparatus for installing joints in concrete structures comprisinga blade adapted to receive joint material thereover, and an invertedU-shaped member extending over said blade for o doubling the joint stripover the blade.

19. An apparatus for forming joints in concrete surfacing materialcomprising a longitudinally moving blade for receiving joint stripthereover, an inverted trough-shaped shield 15 member extending oversaid blade and in spaced relation therefrom to receive the joint striptherewithin, and a joint strip deforming means at the forward portion ofsaid shield member.

20. An apparatus for the installing of joints 20 in concrete roadscomprising an inverted T- shaped blade submerged in the concrete andmovable longitudinally therethrough, an inverted trough-shaped shieldresting upon the flanges of the blade and adapted to receive therewithin25 joint strip material to be folded over the blade, means forsupporting joint strip material, and joint stripping deforming meanscarried at the forward portion of said shield member, and means forsupporting the shield member for movementlio toward and from said blade.

21. The herein described method for forming joints in plasticconstructions, which consists in moving a blade longitudinally throughplastic construction, folding a joint strip with its central :35 portionupon said blade and with its side portions downwardly upon oppositesides of the blade, and moving the blade longitudinally to deposit thejoint strip in the concrete.

22. An apparatus for installing joints in con- 40 crete roadwayscomprising a substantially troughshaped guide, means for folding jointstrip into said guide with its free edges uppermost, and means forstraightening and alining the free edges of the joint material. 45

23. An apparatus for installing joints in concrete roadways comprising asubstantially U- shaped member, a carriage carrying said member formovement through the concrete, means for supplying to said member afoldable strip to of joint material, and an adjustable disc extendinginto said member for folding the joint strip material therein.

24. An apparatus for installing joints in concrete roadways comprising atrough-shaped guide member, a plow at the forward portion of the member,a carriage for adjustably supporting the plow and member for movementthrough the concrete, means for supporting a roll of foldable jointmaterial above the forward portion of said member, a verticallyadjustable disc extending into said member for folding the joint striptherein, and a laterally adjustable workmans platform on the carriage atthe side of said member. 5

25. A joint installing apparatus, consisting of spaced longitudinalmembers to be moved longitudinally over plastic concrete, a plurality ofjoint cleaving members mounted for movement through the plastic concretewith a space provided between the members to produce a longitudinalcleavage in the material, and means following for the installation ofjoint material within the cleavage.

26. A joint installing apparatus comprising longitudinally extendingspaced runners, a carriage to which said runners are adjustablyconnected, cleaving implements moving forwardly in the direction ofmovement of the carriage through the space between said runners and downinto the plastic concrete, means for supporting and moving said cleavingimplements, joint material concrete, a carriage, means for adjustablysupporting the runners from the carriage, a movable endlessbeltsupported above said runners, cleaving fingers having curved endportions mounted onsaid belt zandmpositioned' to. move-throughthe'concrete between said runners, andtmeans at:

the rear of said belt for installing joint material. in the cleavagemadebetween said runners.

28. An apparatus of the kind described com-V prising a float movableover plastic-concrete, a cutting tool carriedv by said float and movablein the-plastic concrete for forming a groove to receive joint material,to be inserted behind the float, and means following the float forinstalling the joint material.

29. In joint installing, apparatus, a slotted float movable over plasticconcrete, a plurality of alined cutting discs carried by the floatandextending through the slots therein, and pivotally supported jointinstalling. means coupled to follow said float.

JOHN N. HELTZEL.

